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Cómo mejorar tu ciclo menstrual: Tratamiento natural para mejorar las hormonas y la menstruación
Cómo mejorar tu ciclo menstrual es tu guía para tener periodos más sanos utilizando tratamiento naturales tales como dieta, suplementos nutricionales, hierbas medicinales y hormonas bioidénticas. Contiene recomendaciones y consejos para mujeres en todas las edades y situaciones. Si tienes tu periodo (o si quieres tenerlo), este libro es para ti.
Los temas incluyen:
-Cómo debería ser tu periodo menstrual.
-Qué puede ir mal.
-Cómo hablar con tu médica.
-Protocolo de tratamiento para todos los problemas comunes del periodo, incluyendo SOP y endometriosis.
Escrito por una médica naturópata con más de veinte años de experiencia en la salud de la mujer, este libro es una recopilación de todo lo que funciona para la salud hormonal.
436 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 16, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 671 reviews
August 4, 2022
I'm no gynecologist, but after all of the research I've done during the past six years, I definitely wouldn't consider myself a novice at this game. Period Repair Manual is a book that boasts alternative treatments for women suffering with period issues, instead of just shutting the whole system off with a birth control pill. This book was refreshing to find, as throughout the last six years, various gynecologists have desperately tried to prescribe me some type of birth control (when I'm actually unable to take any hormonal treatment) for premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is a condition, much more severe than PMS, and I must admit, it has had a dramatic impact on my life.
Briden hardly touches on PMDD. She possibly gives out a three line paragraph at the very beginning of the book, and a wrong description of what it actually is, at the very end of the book. She describes PMDD as a condition that just causes anxiety and depression. PMDD actually causes up to 40 psychological and physical symptoms, and I personally, suffer with around 37 of those, each month. I would love to know why something that woman have taken their own lives over, isn't recognised, and taken seriously enough.
Briden covers many more period complaints and complications, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, heavy periods and many others, and with each of these, she prescribes different medicines, such as vitamins and dietary changes, to try and combat the effects the condition is having on the body. For me, much of this didn't apply, but it was interesting to read up on what could help, in that situation. Obviously, in the most severe situation, surgical intervention is probably the only option, and it tends to be the last option that a woman has.
There was a part on sugary foods, and how it has an impact on period health. Okay, I can understand that, but the way in which Briden tells us to see if food contains sugar, is to lick it. Apparently, if it tastes really sweet, it is a dessert, so goddamn it, just don't eat it! Should I allow myself any indulgence during those two weeks of hell each month, Lara Briden? Or, should I live solely on vegetables and vitamin pills?
The most interesting part of this book was the beginning. It went into an adaquate depth in regards to the period cycle, and hormones in general. But, as I neared halfway through, it became a little repetitive, with a hell of a lot of things we apparently shouldn't be doing on every other page;
Don't have sugar!
Don't eat wheat!
Don't eat dairy!
Don't get six hours sleep!
Don't drink alcohol!
Don't drink caffeinated coffee!
Actually ladies, don't even fart!
Catch my drift?..
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book, but I love that Briden supports that when women have an issue with their periods, the birth control pill should not be given as the easy option, because as I already know, it honestly doesn't always help.
Briden hardly touches on PMDD. She possibly gives out a three line paragraph at the very beginning of the book, and a wrong description of what it actually is, at the very end of the book. She describes PMDD as a condition that just causes anxiety and depression. PMDD actually causes up to 40 psychological and physical symptoms, and I personally, suffer with around 37 of those, each month. I would love to know why something that woman have taken their own lives over, isn't recognised, and taken seriously enough.
Briden covers many more period complaints and complications, such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, menopause, heavy periods and many others, and with each of these, she prescribes different medicines, such as vitamins and dietary changes, to try and combat the effects the condition is having on the body. For me, much of this didn't apply, but it was interesting to read up on what could help, in that situation. Obviously, in the most severe situation, surgical intervention is probably the only option, and it tends to be the last option that a woman has.
There was a part on sugary foods, and how it has an impact on period health. Okay, I can understand that, but the way in which Briden tells us to see if food contains sugar, is to lick it. Apparently, if it tastes really sweet, it is a dessert, so goddamn it, just don't eat it! Should I allow myself any indulgence during those two weeks of hell each month, Lara Briden? Or, should I live solely on vegetables and vitamin pills?
The most interesting part of this book was the beginning. It went into an adaquate depth in regards to the period cycle, and hormones in general. But, as I neared halfway through, it became a little repetitive, with a hell of a lot of things we apparently shouldn't be doing on every other page;
Don't have sugar!
Don't eat wheat!
Don't eat dairy!
Don't get six hours sleep!
Don't drink alcohol!
Don't drink caffeinated coffee!
Actually ladies, don't even fart!
Catch my drift?..
Overall, I have mixed feelings about this book, but I love that Briden supports that when women have an issue with their periods, the birth control pill should not be given as the easy option, because as I already know, it honestly doesn't always help.
February 12, 2016
This is not the kind of book that you necessarily want to let all your friends on goodreads know that you have read. But I want to give it a review, because it is an amazingly helpful and empowering book, and I believe that all women should read it.
It is full of extremely clear and helpful information on naturally balancing your hormones, increasing your fertility, finding effective and healthy birth control, treating PMS, irregularity, pain, peri-menopause, inflammation, and every other challenge with the female cycle. It clearly explains the dangers of the pill and other synthetic hormones, the vast problems that they are causing in women's health, and what to do about it. It also has information about how to talk to your doctor about any and all female health issues, so that you and your doctor understand each other and are on the same page.
In this book we are also shown that the monthly cycle is a report card of our health, and how to understand what the problems in our cycle can tell us about our overall health, and what to do with that information.
I truly cannot say enough good about this book. I only wish I had been able to read it sooner, but alas, it was published less than a year ago.
It is full of extremely clear and helpful information on naturally balancing your hormones, increasing your fertility, finding effective and healthy birth control, treating PMS, irregularity, pain, peri-menopause, inflammation, and every other challenge with the female cycle. It clearly explains the dangers of the pill and other synthetic hormones, the vast problems that they are causing in women's health, and what to do about it. It also has information about how to talk to your doctor about any and all female health issues, so that you and your doctor understand each other and are on the same page.
In this book we are also shown that the monthly cycle is a report card of our health, and how to understand what the problems in our cycle can tell us about our overall health, and what to do with that information.
I truly cannot say enough good about this book. I only wish I had been able to read it sooner, but alas, it was published less than a year ago.
October 11, 2017
Llevo varias semanas buscando libros sobre la menstruación para hacer un vídeo. Y siendo sincera, me ha resultado muy difícil. Más allá de libros de ginecología, no había prácticamente nada en español. Tanteé el terreno con Diario de un cuerpo (Erika Irusta) para conocer a fondo el ciclo menstrual y me encontré con una perspectiva feminista (BIEN) centrada en el tabú de la menstruación. Hormonas, cambios, ciclos; hasta ahí bien. El problema fue que toda esta maravilla nadaba en la verborrea innecesaria de la autora.
Me decanté por buscar libros en inglés y encontré este. La autora, si no me equivoco, no es médico. Sino que trabaja bajo la llamada naturopatía (medicina alternativa). Quiero aclarar esto porque la medicina alternativa NO está basada en la evidencia científica. La naturopatía se fundamenta sobre todo en cambios en el estilo de vida y la nutrición. No me disgusta, pero habiendo estudiado medicina lo mínimo que puedo hacer es dejar muy claro este punto.
Sabiendo algo de la autora, no me extrañó ver cómo demonizaba los fármacos, entre ellos la píldora anticonceptiva. Pero siendo totalmente justa, es cierto que es un libro que explica absolutamente todo con un millar de referencias a bases de datos científicas. Por fin, un libro donde se examina el ciclo menstrual al completo: fases, hormonas, ovulación... Y también todos los problemas que pueden surgir como períodos abundantes, dolorosos, endometriosis, etc.
Así que aunque discrepe en algunas cosas con la autora, agradezco este libro. Es necesario que conozcamos nuestro cuerpo y aprendamos a tener una vida lo más sana posible, cosa que se olvida en el siglo XXI. Dieta equilibrada, deporte y dormir bien.
Me decanté por buscar libros en inglés y encontré este. La autora, si no me equivoco, no es médico. Sino que trabaja bajo la llamada naturopatía (medicina alternativa). Quiero aclarar esto porque la medicina alternativa NO está basada en la evidencia científica. La naturopatía se fundamenta sobre todo en cambios en el estilo de vida y la nutrición. No me disgusta, pero habiendo estudiado medicina lo mínimo que puedo hacer es dejar muy claro este punto.
Sabiendo algo de la autora, no me extrañó ver cómo demonizaba los fármacos, entre ellos la píldora anticonceptiva. Pero siendo totalmente justa, es cierto que es un libro que explica absolutamente todo con un millar de referencias a bases de datos científicas. Por fin, un libro donde se examina el ciclo menstrual al completo: fases, hormonas, ovulación... Y también todos los problemas que pueden surgir como períodos abundantes, dolorosos, endometriosis, etc.
Así que aunque discrepe en algunas cosas con la autora, agradezco este libro. Es necesario que conozcamos nuestro cuerpo y aprendamos a tener una vida lo más sana posible, cosa que se olvida en el siglo XXI. Dieta equilibrada, deporte y dormir bien.
July 25, 2019
Lo leí en inglés en su día y ahora lo tengo también en español. Ha sido una relectura estupenda, y sigo pensando lo mismo que antes: este libro es imprescindible (y tiene como cientos de citas bibliográficas).
July 22, 2020
There are too many false and uncited claims mixed in with some good information. Here are some troublesome statements I came across:
1. The book states, “Need a quick way to know if a food item has too much sugar? Ask yourself: ‘Does it taste really sweet?’ If it does—if it is essentially dessert—then it has too much sugar.” What kind of advice is that? To me personally, fresh pineapple tastes very sweet. But in reality, fresh fruit has zero added sugar. Conversely, many loaves of bread at the supermarket have added sugar yet do not taste sweet.
2. This book will not mention when a study is done in mice or in vitro. Even if this book is for the layperson, it is still important information. To give one example, the book states, “endometriosis has been linked to dioxin exposure in the womb.” Yet the reference is an article about mice (which do not menstruate).
3. This book states, “olive oil is not a source of omega-6 fatty acids.” That is just patently false.
4. The UL for vitamin B6 is 100 mg, but the book recommends supplementing up to 150 mg (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Vit...).
5. The book states the EWG is a good source for further reading on environmental toxins. However, the EWG is a terrible source of information. They have financial ties to the cosmetics and foods they rate well (www.ewg.org/about-us/funding). When analyzing pesticide data from the USDA, the EWG uses unscientific methodology (PMID: 21776262). When testing pesticide levels themselves, they create their own random benchmarks (www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2018/08...).
6. This book states too much insulin causes weight gain. This has been disproven (PMID: 27385608). You may also consider the fact that GLP-1 receptor agonist medications increase insulin secretion and are associated with weight loss (PMID: 22236411).
7. This book states that omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils promote inflammatory prostaglandins. This claim is not cited. In fact, omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids have not been shown to cause inflammation in humans (PMID:22889633) or even to increase arachidonic acid (PMID: 21663641). What’s more, a science advisory noted that in human studies, higher levels of omega-6 PUFAs were associated with decreased levels of proinflammatory markers and increased levels of antiinflammatory markers (PMID: 19171857).
8. The book states to aim for about 150 to 200 grams of carbs per day. You can’t give that recommendation when you don’t know anything about the reader besides maybe their sex.
9. This book states, “sugar addiction is real and common.” A citation is needed here. Do you know anyone who is downing the table sugar in their kitchen? No, because sugar itself is not addictive.
1. The book states, “Need a quick way to know if a food item has too much sugar? Ask yourself: ‘Does it taste really sweet?’ If it does—if it is essentially dessert—then it has too much sugar.” What kind of advice is that? To me personally, fresh pineapple tastes very sweet. But in reality, fresh fruit has zero added sugar. Conversely, many loaves of bread at the supermarket have added sugar yet do not taste sweet.
2. This book will not mention when a study is done in mice or in vitro. Even if this book is for the layperson, it is still important information. To give one example, the book states, “endometriosis has been linked to dioxin exposure in the womb.” Yet the reference is an article about mice (which do not menstruate).
3. This book states, “olive oil is not a source of omega-6 fatty acids.” That is just patently false.
4. The UL for vitamin B6 is 100 mg, but the book recommends supplementing up to 150 mg (https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Vit...).
5. The book states the EWG is a good source for further reading on environmental toxins. However, the EWG is a terrible source of information. They have financial ties to the cosmetics and foods they rate well (www.ewg.org/about-us/funding). When analyzing pesticide data from the USDA, the EWG uses unscientific methodology (PMID: 21776262). When testing pesticide levels themselves, they create their own random benchmarks (www.ewg.org/news-and-analysis/2018/08...).
6. This book states too much insulin causes weight gain. This has been disproven (PMID: 27385608). You may also consider the fact that GLP-1 receptor agonist medications increase insulin secretion and are associated with weight loss (PMID: 22236411).
7. This book states that omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids found in vegetable oils promote inflammatory prostaglandins. This claim is not cited. In fact, omega 6 polyunsaturated fatty acids have not been shown to cause inflammation in humans (PMID:22889633) or even to increase arachidonic acid (PMID: 21663641). What’s more, a science advisory noted that in human studies, higher levels of omega-6 PUFAs were associated with decreased levels of proinflammatory markers and increased levels of antiinflammatory markers (PMID: 19171857).
8. The book states to aim for about 150 to 200 grams of carbs per day. You can’t give that recommendation when you don’t know anything about the reader besides maybe their sex.
9. This book states, “sugar addiction is real and common.” A citation is needed here. Do you know anyone who is downing the table sugar in their kitchen? No, because sugar itself is not addictive.
April 23, 2019
🗣ATTN medical providers 🗣
If you want your patients to stop turning to naturopathic providers, listen to your patients. Acknowledge side effects of medication. Refer your patients to specialists when you don’t know something.
🌺And for the love of all that is holy, stop prescribing birth control for every period problem.🌺
Alright so now that my soap box is out of the way, let’s talk about this book. I’ll just jump right to the bad: there’s a lot of hormonal birth control fear-mongering in here. Concerns that simply are not supported by the literature or the vast majority of gynecologists. The main argument is that BC suppresses ovulation, and is therefore bad because it covers up potentially serious conditions.
These are two technically true statements: birth control stops ovulation. And birth control masks symptoms of conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. However the assertion that this is inherently bad is not correct. Suppressing ovulation, and therefore the growth of new endometriosis tissue, reduces the severity of this disease. Left untreated, endometriosis can grow and attach in serious places and potentially cause permanent damage. This is not discussed or addressed at all as she discusses her herbal treatments of endo.
All that said, I agree with this idea that slapping some birth control on everything is less than ideal. It’s wild to me that there are so many advances in medicine, and women are stuck with “just shut that whole thing down” when it comes to reproductive medicine. Women are out here missing work, school, unable to fulfill obligations at home because of severe pain. If one tenth of men suffered from a chronic reproductive condition it would be declared a national health emergency. Grants would be pumped into that bad boy until we had a CURE.
But women? Eh well we have birth control, what else do we want?
I have no judgements towards individuals who seek alternative treatments after the traditional medical system has failed them.
I had hoped that this book would be “here are some alternatives you could try instead or in conjunction with hormonal BC” but it was really more “your bc is bad, stop it.”
I was also hoping that despite all of the above, I could still give this 2-3 stars but then the author hit me with a classic “soy is bad because it has phytoestrogen” which is just not true. Stating this in the face of evidence to the contrary is some woo, anti-science noise.
If you want your patients to stop turning to naturopathic providers, listen to your patients. Acknowledge side effects of medication. Refer your patients to specialists when you don’t know something.
🌺And for the love of all that is holy, stop prescribing birth control for every period problem.🌺
Alright so now that my soap box is out of the way, let’s talk about this book. I’ll just jump right to the bad: there’s a lot of hormonal birth control fear-mongering in here. Concerns that simply are not supported by the literature or the vast majority of gynecologists. The main argument is that BC suppresses ovulation, and is therefore bad because it covers up potentially serious conditions.
These are two technically true statements: birth control stops ovulation. And birth control masks symptoms of conditions like endometriosis and PCOS. However the assertion that this is inherently bad is not correct. Suppressing ovulation, and therefore the growth of new endometriosis tissue, reduces the severity of this disease. Left untreated, endometriosis can grow and attach in serious places and potentially cause permanent damage. This is not discussed or addressed at all as she discusses her herbal treatments of endo.
All that said, I agree with this idea that slapping some birth control on everything is less than ideal. It’s wild to me that there are so many advances in medicine, and women are stuck with “just shut that whole thing down” when it comes to reproductive medicine. Women are out here missing work, school, unable to fulfill obligations at home because of severe pain. If one tenth of men suffered from a chronic reproductive condition it would be declared a national health emergency. Grants would be pumped into that bad boy until we had a CURE.
But women? Eh well we have birth control, what else do we want?
I have no judgements towards individuals who seek alternative treatments after the traditional medical system has failed them.
I had hoped that this book would be “here are some alternatives you could try instead or in conjunction with hormonal BC” but it was really more “your bc is bad, stop it.”
I was also hoping that despite all of the above, I could still give this 2-3 stars but then the author hit me with a classic “soy is bad because it has phytoestrogen” which is just not true. Stating this in the face of evidence to the contrary is some woo, anti-science noise.
dnf-because-no
May 20, 2023DNF @59%
There is useful information here but that's not enough.
Having had some very bad experiences with The Pill myself, I initially liked the way Briden addressed it:
It is true that the pill often has extreme side effects about which no one warns you and that it's prescribed too easily as a way to ignore people when they justifiably complain about having irregular periods, menstrual cramps, bad PMS, or acne. That's all good and well and we should definitely have a open discussion about what the pill is and what it does and what possible consequences it might have to our health, both physical and mental.
But the way Briden keeps talking about hormonal contraception throughout the book makes it seem like she believes it's a thing from the depths of hell. I had a bad experience with the pill and I know lots of people who went through the same things. But I also know a bunch of people for whom the pill works and that's marvelous for them and I hope it keeps helping them and I don't like how Briden insists that everyone should stop using it.
Apart from the fearmongering concerning the pill and other types of hormonal contraception, I found some of her advice lacking:
Lastly, the structure of the book is all over the place. Briden asks you not to skim but to read every section carefully and, after a certain point, that's almost impossible to do because of all the repetition. The 200 pages I read can be succintcly summarised thustly: "Don't eat sugar. Don't eat wheat. Don't eat cow dairy. Don't drink alcohol. Make sure you get enough magnesium, zinc and vitamin B6. Ask your doctor to make a bunch of blood test to judge whether you have a deficiency in those and then take supplements. For the love of god do not take hormonal contraception, it is the evilest thing designed by humankind and will destroy you and everything you love."
There is useful information here but that's not enough.
Having had some very bad experiences with The Pill myself, I initially liked the way Briden addressed it:
"Why should we have to shut down a woman's entire hormonal system just to accomplish the simple job of preventing pregnancy? Fertility is an expression of health, not a disease to be treated with a drug."
It is true that the pill often has extreme side effects about which no one warns you and that it's prescribed too easily as a way to ignore people when they justifiably complain about having irregular periods, menstrual cramps, bad PMS, or acne. That's all good and well and we should definitely have a open discussion about what the pill is and what it does and what possible consequences it might have to our health, both physical and mental.
But the way Briden keeps talking about hormonal contraception throughout the book makes it seem like she believes it's a thing from the depths of hell. I had a bad experience with the pill and I know lots of people who went through the same things. But I also know a bunch of people for whom the pill works and that's marvelous for them and I hope it keeps helping them and I don't like how Briden insists that everyone should stop using it.
Apart from the fearmongering concerning the pill and other types of hormonal contraception, I found some of her advice lacking:
"Need a quick way to know if a food item has too much sugar? Ask yourself: ‘Does it taste really sweet?’ If it does—if it is essentially dessert—then it has too much sugar."Uuhh... thanks?
Lastly, the structure of the book is all over the place. Briden asks you not to skim but to read every section carefully and, after a certain point, that's almost impossible to do because of all the repetition. The 200 pages I read can be succintcly summarised thustly: "Don't eat sugar. Don't eat wheat. Don't eat cow dairy. Don't drink alcohol. Make sure you get enough magnesium, zinc and vitamin B6. Ask your doctor to make a bunch of blood test to judge whether you have a deficiency in those and then take supplements. For the love of god do not take hormonal contraception, it is the evilest thing designed by humankind and will destroy you and everything you love."
January 23, 2016
This book was published last year. I wish it had been published when I was 13, and instead of handing me the pill, someone would have handed me this book. The good news is it's never too late to fix yourself. This short book is a wealth of information, many of it I'll admit I was ignorant to. I feel empowered to take charge of my body and I will never, NEVER go back to taking the pill again.
September 10, 2018
It is me and my troubled hormones again, popping up on Goodreads with another review on books concerning periods. But this book was so informative, easy to digest and empowering. Typically I stay away from anything stating it’s a “manual” or a “cure” but this IS a manual and one I plan on referring to time and time again. The writing is very concise, not full of Briden patting herself on the back or shoving anti birth control sentiments down your throat. She is very well informed and truly an advocate. I felt empowered and also a bit angry at how little research has been done on women’s health and how little doctors care to treat hormone issues besides suggesting birth control until you’re trying to conceive. If you’re trying to figure out how to heal your body this is a great place to start. It covers diet, cause and effect, different hormone imbalances (PCOS, endometriosis, insulin resistance, adrenal fatigue, etc), treatments, supplements, and so much more. Highly recommend to anyone who has a period, troublesome or not!
August 20, 2021
Hello everyone, and welcome to my feminist rant!
I am going to guess that this will probably be one of the most formative books I ever read in my life. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the best book out there on the topic, but because it’s the first one for me (you better believe I have like 8 more on hold at the library) it’s the one that is going to shift my thinking the most.
I am FURIOUS after reading this book.
Why am I nearly THIRTY SEVEN years old and no one ever taught me this stuff???????? I feel that I have been deprived of extremely important medical information for the majority of my life, to the (sometimes severe) detriment of my health and wellbeing. All because the existing medical establishment is too lazy and cheap to actually research the female body and reproductive functions, instead opting to shut them off with hormonal birth control any time there is an issue.
One of the core concepts of this book is that menstruation is a legitimate VITAL SIGN. It provides clues about your general health and whether your body and hormones are functioning properly. Yet, doctors generally opt to shut off this vital sign (with The Pill) when it starts telling us that something is wrong instead of trying to find out the cause and correct it. HOLY SHIT Y’ALL!!!! HOW IS THIS A THING!!!!???? Please let this sink in for a minute. We are essentially lobotomizing our reproductive systems, usually temporarily but sometimes permanently, because the medical establishment is unwilling to do any research into this topic because hormones are “too complicated.” How is this “do no harm”? Women commit suicide over severe PMS and it is well-known that hormonal birth control is linked to depression. I can’t say I’ve met anyone who has truly been happy with their experience on hormonal birth control – it is treated as a necessary evil, but apparently it doesn’t have to be that way.
I truly believe as a society we have been gaslit into thinking that hormonal birth control is a feminist concept, but what would ACTUALLY be feminist is learning about the female body and teaching folks with a female reproductive system how to properly take care of it, and maybe, just maybe, doing some research into male birth control (as I understand the technology very much exists but funding for clinical trials and approval does not). I appreciate the author’s sentiment that she’s not 100% against using hormonal birth control, but it should be prescribed only if the person using it is fully aware of what it actually does to their body (it doesn’t “regulate your hormones” - it shuts them off) and/or other less invasive options have been carefully considered and ruled out if the birth control is being used for a medical condition. Which is typically never the case.
In my other ranty reviews of books that touch on the data gaps in women’s health I have mentioned that I deal with migraines that are absolutely linked to my menstrual cycle, but no doctor has ever seemed too concerned or had any ideas about what to do (the only half-good suggestion I ever got was “try magnesium – it probably won’t work but there’s a couple studies that say it might”). It is also well-established in conventional medicine that we just don’t really know what causes migraines, guess you just have to tough it out sister! Girl power! Live laugh love through the pain! This author postulates that most premenstrual migraines can be completely eliminated (according to her patient history of 20 years in practice as an ND) with a few dietary changes and some common and safe supplements like magnesium and vitamins B6 and B2. THAT’S IT!!!???? WHY DOES NOBODY KNOW THIS????
Granted, it sounds like I may have to permanently give up (Holstein) cow’s dairy, gluten, sugar, and alcohol to eliminate my migraines and other PMS and sleep issues. But at 36 I am starting to seriously consider what I am willing to sacrifice for my health instead of just being like “but I love cheese too much, the migraines are worth it!”. I love pizza but is it worth it if it is giving me insomnia and migraines and making me super tired? (And if I can still have delicious delicious buffalo mozzarella and pecorino romano, who even cares?)
I do recognize that the ability to make drastic dietary changes like eliminating gluten and cow’s dairy will typically come from a place of wealth and privilege – cheap and convenient foods contain a lot of the inflammatory triggers mentioned in the book, and one can’t exactly be picky about what they’re getting in a food bank hamper for example. The author postulates it is likely that 60% of women are probably sensitive to gluten and it is screwing up our periods or causing debilitating PMS symptoms (like migraines). And right now there is definitely a lot of societal derision as many wealthy women start to recognize that gluten is making them unhealthy (our ingrained sexism is showing). But I see this as the product of a broken system that has not done the research into female health and potentially continues to push damaging foods onto people who don’t have much of a choice. This is extremely messed up if true.
And of course I have to disclaim that maybe not everything in this book should be taken at face value, as it is really just based on one ND’s experience and her interpretation of the scientific evidence where it it exists (which is often scarce for any kind of women’s health issues, see Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez for an infuriating primer). But like… it makes so much sense. It make more sense than anything I have ever heard or read before. I am unwilling to believe it is some sort of conspiracy by the anti-sugar lobby or something. As well the majority of treatments discussed are very non-invasive and can’t hurt to try. I can’t imagine one getting LESS healthy from cutting sugar and alcohol from their diet, for example. (As mentioned above though, there’s an element of having the resources to do so involved, which is outside the scope of this book and a symptom of larger societal issues.)
I think a lot of the credibility for me in this book comes from the fact that the author isn’t railing against conventional medicine – there is absolutely a time and place for it, and she discusses when certain issues might need conventional treatment like surgery, hormonal birth control, or hysterectomy. I appreciated the section at the end about how to talk to your doctor about the issues outlined in the book. I am becoming more interested in the idea of using a team of complementary health care providers like an ND along with an MD and everyone collaborating to their strengths. This is how it should be, but all too often there are ego issues from MD’s or more commonly, insurance limitations where really only people with good insurance or a lot of disposable income can afford to see any health care provider who isn’t an MD. Yet another problem with the way we’ve structured health care in our country/province that is especially stacking the deck against women.
A few quibbles - this book was revised in 2018, it is not inclusive to use language that assumes everyone reading this has a male sexual partner, for example. Let's do better on this going forward. Also, I really wish every chapter had a one-page summary at the end, and that there was an appendix or some complementary online resources that contain like a cheat sheet for all the info contained. I wish I would have been making notes throughout my reading to keep track of everything that potentially applied to me because I feel like it was such an info dump that I probably lost some of the important info by the end.
In summary – allegedly there are fairly simple cures for the majority of cases of painful periods, PMS, inflammation, insulin resistance, PCOS, infertility, and irregular periods, and they are mainly dietary and supplement based (but sometimes need more intensive or invasive treatments). Your menstrual cycle is an important vital sign that will tell you when something is wrong - avoid shutting it down unless it's your last resort. Conventional medicine does not know about this because doctors are just trained to prescribe the pill to shut off your hormones when encountering any menstrual irregularity. I feel very empowered after reading this, and look forward to learning other perspectives on the topic.
I am going to guess that this will probably be one of the most formative books I ever read in my life. I don’t know that it’s necessarily the best book out there on the topic, but because it’s the first one for me (you better believe I have like 8 more on hold at the library) it’s the one that is going to shift my thinking the most.
I am FURIOUS after reading this book.
Why am I nearly THIRTY SEVEN years old and no one ever taught me this stuff???????? I feel that I have been deprived of extremely important medical information for the majority of my life, to the (sometimes severe) detriment of my health and wellbeing. All because the existing medical establishment is too lazy and cheap to actually research the female body and reproductive functions, instead opting to shut them off with hormonal birth control any time there is an issue.
One of the core concepts of this book is that menstruation is a legitimate VITAL SIGN. It provides clues about your general health and whether your body and hormones are functioning properly. Yet, doctors generally opt to shut off this vital sign (with The Pill) when it starts telling us that something is wrong instead of trying to find out the cause and correct it. HOLY SHIT Y’ALL!!!! HOW IS THIS A THING!!!!???? Please let this sink in for a minute. We are essentially lobotomizing our reproductive systems, usually temporarily but sometimes permanently, because the medical establishment is unwilling to do any research into this topic because hormones are “too complicated.” How is this “do no harm”? Women commit suicide over severe PMS and it is well-known that hormonal birth control is linked to depression. I can’t say I’ve met anyone who has truly been happy with their experience on hormonal birth control – it is treated as a necessary evil, but apparently it doesn’t have to be that way.
I truly believe as a society we have been gaslit into thinking that hormonal birth control is a feminist concept, but what would ACTUALLY be feminist is learning about the female body and teaching folks with a female reproductive system how to properly take care of it, and maybe, just maybe, doing some research into male birth control (as I understand the technology very much exists but funding for clinical trials and approval does not). I appreciate the author’s sentiment that she’s not 100% against using hormonal birth control, but it should be prescribed only if the person using it is fully aware of what it actually does to their body (it doesn’t “regulate your hormones” - it shuts them off) and/or other less invasive options have been carefully considered and ruled out if the birth control is being used for a medical condition. Which is typically never the case.
In my other ranty reviews of books that touch on the data gaps in women’s health I have mentioned that I deal with migraines that are absolutely linked to my menstrual cycle, but no doctor has ever seemed too concerned or had any ideas about what to do (the only half-good suggestion I ever got was “try magnesium – it probably won’t work but there’s a couple studies that say it might”). It is also well-established in conventional medicine that we just don’t really know what causes migraines, guess you just have to tough it out sister! Girl power! Live laugh love through the pain! This author postulates that most premenstrual migraines can be completely eliminated (according to her patient history of 20 years in practice as an ND) with a few dietary changes and some common and safe supplements like magnesium and vitamins B6 and B2. THAT’S IT!!!???? WHY DOES NOBODY KNOW THIS????
Granted, it sounds like I may have to permanently give up (Holstein) cow’s dairy, gluten, sugar, and alcohol to eliminate my migraines and other PMS and sleep issues. But at 36 I am starting to seriously consider what I am willing to sacrifice for my health instead of just being like “but I love cheese too much, the migraines are worth it!”. I love pizza but is it worth it if it is giving me insomnia and migraines and making me super tired? (And if I can still have delicious delicious buffalo mozzarella and pecorino romano, who even cares?)
I do recognize that the ability to make drastic dietary changes like eliminating gluten and cow’s dairy will typically come from a place of wealth and privilege – cheap and convenient foods contain a lot of the inflammatory triggers mentioned in the book, and one can’t exactly be picky about what they’re getting in a food bank hamper for example. The author postulates it is likely that 60% of women are probably sensitive to gluten and it is screwing up our periods or causing debilitating PMS symptoms (like migraines). And right now there is definitely a lot of societal derision as many wealthy women start to recognize that gluten is making them unhealthy (our ingrained sexism is showing). But I see this as the product of a broken system that has not done the research into female health and potentially continues to push damaging foods onto people who don’t have much of a choice. This is extremely messed up if true.
And of course I have to disclaim that maybe not everything in this book should be taken at face value, as it is really just based on one ND’s experience and her interpretation of the scientific evidence where it it exists (which is often scarce for any kind of women’s health issues, see Invisible Women: Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado-Perez for an infuriating primer). But like… it makes so much sense. It make more sense than anything I have ever heard or read before. I am unwilling to believe it is some sort of conspiracy by the anti-sugar lobby or something. As well the majority of treatments discussed are very non-invasive and can’t hurt to try. I can’t imagine one getting LESS healthy from cutting sugar and alcohol from their diet, for example. (As mentioned above though, there’s an element of having the resources to do so involved, which is outside the scope of this book and a symptom of larger societal issues.)
I think a lot of the credibility for me in this book comes from the fact that the author isn’t railing against conventional medicine – there is absolutely a time and place for it, and she discusses when certain issues might need conventional treatment like surgery, hormonal birth control, or hysterectomy. I appreciated the section at the end about how to talk to your doctor about the issues outlined in the book. I am becoming more interested in the idea of using a team of complementary health care providers like an ND along with an MD and everyone collaborating to their strengths. This is how it should be, but all too often there are ego issues from MD’s or more commonly, insurance limitations where really only people with good insurance or a lot of disposable income can afford to see any health care provider who isn’t an MD. Yet another problem with the way we’ve structured health care in our country/province that is especially stacking the deck against women.
A few quibbles - this book was revised in 2018, it is not inclusive to use language that assumes everyone reading this has a male sexual partner, for example. Let's do better on this going forward. Also, I really wish every chapter had a one-page summary at the end, and that there was an appendix or some complementary online resources that contain like a cheat sheet for all the info contained. I wish I would have been making notes throughout my reading to keep track of everything that potentially applied to me because I feel like it was such an info dump that I probably lost some of the important info by the end.
In summary – allegedly there are fairly simple cures for the majority of cases of painful periods, PMS, inflammation, insulin resistance, PCOS, infertility, and irregular periods, and they are mainly dietary and supplement based (but sometimes need more intensive or invasive treatments). Your menstrual cycle is an important vital sign that will tell you when something is wrong - avoid shutting it down unless it's your last resort. Conventional medicine does not know about this because doctors are just trained to prescribe the pill to shut off your hormones when encountering any menstrual irregularity. I feel very empowered after reading this, and look forward to learning other perspectives on the topic.
July 4, 2016
It had some great info that I'm putting into practice, so hopefully it'll be helpful! As for the book itself, it got repetitive. The narration is done in a way that heavily asks the reader to read the book cover to cover and not just skip around, but it's written as though the reader IS skipping around, so it's very repetitive to read in many places. Also, the Kindle edition is very glitchy. I would be reading, and the book would randomly skip ahead by about 30%, and it was a nightmare to try to get back to where I actually was. That alone probably took up about 1/3 of my time reading this book. Sadly, I think I'll have to pick up a physical copy at some point to keep my sanity because I can't stand trying to find info in the Kindle edition because of this issue. Otherwise, great info still!
I do wish the dietary recommendations were a bit more realistic. Majority of people, myself included, don't have the time or money for lamb shanks and salmon steaks as regular dinners (same for the breakfast and lunch suggestions), just saying. I felt that I had to disregard most of the diet suggestions and will have to figure out my own system for that. It seems geared toward people who have a good chunk of money and time, which I doubt is the majority of readers.
There were some supplements and vitamins that the author says are great for you (such as Vitex), but she says not to take it within three months after stopping hormonal birth control. She just never says WHY you shouldn't. It's a nit-picky detail, and it's only one part, but it's really stuck with me. There are a few places where the author doesn't give us enough of a "why" for my tastes. If I should or should not be doing something, I'd like to know why exactly, and it's often skipped.
Still, there are plenty of things that the average person can take away from it, so it's a good read, just don't take it ALL to heart.
I do wish the dietary recommendations were a bit more realistic. Majority of people, myself included, don't have the time or money for lamb shanks and salmon steaks as regular dinners (same for the breakfast and lunch suggestions), just saying. I felt that I had to disregard most of the diet suggestions and will have to figure out my own system for that. It seems geared toward people who have a good chunk of money and time, which I doubt is the majority of readers.
There were some supplements and vitamins that the author says are great for you (such as Vitex), but she says not to take it within three months after stopping hormonal birth control. She just never says WHY you shouldn't. It's a nit-picky detail, and it's only one part, but it's really stuck with me. There are a few places where the author doesn't give us enough of a "why" for my tastes. If I should or should not be doing something, I'd like to know why exactly, and it's often skipped.
Still, there are plenty of things that the average person can take away from it, so it's a good read, just don't take it ALL to heart.
June 21, 2020
After working on Body in Balance with DR Neal Barnard I’ve become interested in hormones (and have sought out other professional opinions re: treatment)
This book provides the most comprehensive (and easy-to-understand) explanation of the female cycle. I’d recommend reading that part to every woman. For example, did you know that it takes 100 days for your eggs to mature? That is, a period (or lack) this month actually reflects what was happening in the body/life three months ago?
Also, did you know that pill bleeds (birth control) are not real periods?
This book also covers the multiple different kinds of PCOS (admittedly I had no idea there were multiple kinds of PCOS!) and how to treat each one.
Overall, Bidden recommends the following for “treatment” of hormone conditions such as PCOS or HA.
- no wheat
- no dairy
- take a magnesium supplement
- take zinc
- eat carbs, esp starches UNLESS you are insulin resistant
- intermittent fasting IF you have insulin resistance
- no sugar (if you have PCOS)
She blatantly states women cannot do a low carb diet unless they are past menopause. She backs this up with research/explanation and client testimonials.
What I don’t like: the book is poorly organized and you have to flip back and forth between chapters (there’s also a redundancy aspect)
Other issues: she strongly discourages a vegan diet but gives no supporting evidence except that “vegan diets may be low in certain vitamins and minerals” 🙄 🙄 this can also be said for the typical western diet. For vegans, she recommends they take a number of supplements, like taurine, but doesn’t say why, what they do, how they will help, what a low level might do, what food sources might have them, and why a vegan might be “low” in the first place. Most of these things cannot be tested for—that is, you can’t know if you’re low or not.
She also quips that vegans must eat beans with rice for a complete protein and this is so old/outdated/misinformed it made me question everything else she’d said 😞
She also discourages soy and beans if you have period problems but again, doesn’t use good science to back these claims. She points out that soy had phytoestrogens, which is true, but ample research shows these are not the same as the hormone estrogen, nor do they act like actual
Estrogen, etc and there’s significant clinical and observational research that says soy could help hormonal issues assuming the woman doesn’t have thyroid problems 🤷🏻♀️
With beans, she says they’re a problem because of they contain photo-whatever but again doesn’t back this up and again, research to the contrary exists. I also vaguely remember reading new research on the importance of their phyto-whatever and that any concern about the negative aspects only applies if someone is eating beans exclusively.
I gave up before I got to the chapters on menopause
This book provides the most comprehensive (and easy-to-understand) explanation of the female cycle. I’d recommend reading that part to every woman. For example, did you know that it takes 100 days for your eggs to mature? That is, a period (or lack) this month actually reflects what was happening in the body/life three months ago?
Also, did you know that pill bleeds (birth control) are not real periods?
This book also covers the multiple different kinds of PCOS (admittedly I had no idea there were multiple kinds of PCOS!) and how to treat each one.
Overall, Bidden recommends the following for “treatment” of hormone conditions such as PCOS or HA.
- no wheat
- no dairy
- take a magnesium supplement
- take zinc
- eat carbs, esp starches UNLESS you are insulin resistant
- intermittent fasting IF you have insulin resistance
- no sugar (if you have PCOS)
She blatantly states women cannot do a low carb diet unless they are past menopause. She backs this up with research/explanation and client testimonials.
What I don’t like: the book is poorly organized and you have to flip back and forth between chapters (there’s also a redundancy aspect)
Other issues: she strongly discourages a vegan diet but gives no supporting evidence except that “vegan diets may be low in certain vitamins and minerals” 🙄 🙄 this can also be said for the typical western diet. For vegans, she recommends they take a number of supplements, like taurine, but doesn’t say why, what they do, how they will help, what a low level might do, what food sources might have them, and why a vegan might be “low” in the first place. Most of these things cannot be tested for—that is, you can’t know if you’re low or not.
She also quips that vegans must eat beans with rice for a complete protein and this is so old/outdated/misinformed it made me question everything else she’d said 😞
She also discourages soy and beans if you have period problems but again, doesn’t use good science to back these claims. She points out that soy had phytoestrogens, which is true, but ample research shows these are not the same as the hormone estrogen, nor do they act like actual
Estrogen, etc and there’s significant clinical and observational research that says soy could help hormonal issues assuming the woman doesn’t have thyroid problems 🤷🏻♀️
With beans, she says they’re a problem because of they contain photo-whatever but again doesn’t back this up and again, research to the contrary exists. I also vaguely remember reading new research on the importance of their phyto-whatever and that any concern about the negative aspects only applies if someone is eating beans exclusively.
I gave up before I got to the chapters on menopause
May 4, 2019
The content of this book is truly vital and essential. I can not thank enough the writer for providing this information, and I would certainly recommend this manual to any woman, especially those experiencing any trouble with their period. However, I did not find the text very engaging. Instead, I found it dense and repetitive and it felt like it took me forever to finish the book. I would recommend the readers to read the first chapters and then jump to the chapter of their individual problem instead of reading it from end to end as the author suggests. This way maybe they can remain interested and enjoy the read a bit more than I did.
June 19, 2025
an absolute must-read for anyone who has struggled with menstrual issues, especially those who have exacerbated symptoms from using contraceptives. really opened my eyes up to how little the health system knows or cares about menstrual health, and wants to use band-aid methods that only make things worse for us in the long run.
April 9, 2024
Todas deberíamos leer este libro <3
June 7, 2020
I don’t like the snarky tone of this book or the I-know-better attitude of the author. Naturopathic medicine has so much to offer and I would hate for someone who could benefit from it to be put off by the attitude of it. You catch more flies with honey than vinegar! While the book has valid concerns about hormonal birth control, I’m not convinced that it has been as detrimental to women and women’s health as portrayed in the book. I could see this argument be used as a method of controlling women and reinforcing patriarchy and paternalism. Women should be informed about the risks and benefits of all types of birth control and then be supported to make the choice that is right for them without bias or judgement. Absolutely we should be advocating for better, healthier birth control options that have less side effects - but we still need to recognize that many birth control pills work well for many women.
Furthermore, I question the authors relationships with several of the brands listed in the book, though she does make mention of no sponsored relationships. Since the book has been published, the Daysy fertility tracker has had its published article rescinded that gave it its credibility, though I’m not sure about the dates and recognize this book could have been published before the article was retracted.
I do highly appreciate the information and overview of the different types of available birth control options. They were informative and piqued my interest to do some more researching.
As for the information on how to enhance natural cycles, I feel like some changes could be made in terms of the book’s organization. As other reviewers have noted, the book encourages the reader to read the whole book, but then also is repetitive in repeating information and will redirect the reader to other chapters. Much of the information in this book is general how to be healthy information. I would have preferred an overview that gives this advice once at the beginning instead of repeating it for each section. Of course diet/exercise/reducing stress will be beneficial to all period problems.
Overall, it is obvious that this book is written by an ND. I take what is useful from natural medicine and western medicine. If you are a skeptic of natural medicine this book is not for you.
Furthermore, I question the authors relationships with several of the brands listed in the book, though she does make mention of no sponsored relationships. Since the book has been published, the Daysy fertility tracker has had its published article rescinded that gave it its credibility, though I’m not sure about the dates and recognize this book could have been published before the article was retracted.
I do highly appreciate the information and overview of the different types of available birth control options. They were informative and piqued my interest to do some more researching.
As for the information on how to enhance natural cycles, I feel like some changes could be made in terms of the book’s organization. As other reviewers have noted, the book encourages the reader to read the whole book, but then also is repetitive in repeating information and will redirect the reader to other chapters. Much of the information in this book is general how to be healthy information. I would have preferred an overview that gives this advice once at the beginning instead of repeating it for each section. Of course diet/exercise/reducing stress will be beneficial to all period problems.
Overall, it is obvious that this book is written by an ND. I take what is useful from natural medicine and western medicine. If you are a skeptic of natural medicine this book is not for you.
July 19, 2019
A vital read for anyone interested in women’s health, hormones and natural birth control and conception. Written like a well-informed, medically trained friend talking to you who wants the best for you, backed up by Lara’s research and clinical practice.
November 7, 2023
This is not the best book to have appear in your Goodreads list with people you don’t know well or are male, however I wanted to review it for the female half of the world. This book is incredibly helpful. It should be required reading for all teenage girls for health in high school. The author might be a little over the top about not eating any sugar, wheat, or dairy, but it still gets 5 stars, it’s that important. She says your period is your health report card, and that includes PMS or pain symptoms. Check it out! At least start taking magnesium and zinc, haha.
September 6, 2019
Your period is not just your period. It is an expression of your underlying health. When you are healthy, your menstrual cycle will arrive smoothly, regularly, and without symptoms. When you are unhealthy in some way, your cycle will tell the story.
I wish I had read this a decade ago. I would have saved myself from years and years of sub-optimal health. Unfortunately, this book wasn't even published 10 years ago, and instead I listened to my gynecologist who suggested I continue taking the pill to "regulate my hormones and period." Now, after reading this book, I know that the pill was just masking underlying health issues, that a period on the pill isn't a real period, that the pill was suppressing ovulation and preventing my body from producing extremely beneficial hormones.
No periods? Your doctor may have advised you just to take the pill and not worry until you’re ready for a baby. That will give you fake drug-induced bleeds for now, and you can always take a fertility drug later. You know that’s not good enough. You want a real period, and you want a regular period. According to the American College of Gynecologists, a regular period is a vital sign of health; according to me, it’s a key indicator of your monthly report card. A regular period is also a good sign that you ovulate. If you take it one step further and track your temperatures to confirm that you ovulate, then you know that all is well with your underlying health and metabolism. And remember, you want to ovulate. It’s how you make the wonderful hormones estradiol and progesterone and receive their many benefits for mood, metabolism, hair, and bone health.
This book contains a wealth of information about birth control (not just the pill, but all other types of hormonal and non-hormonal birth control), what your period should look and feel like, what underlying health problems could cause irregular periods or anovulatory cycles, menopause, PMS, endometriosis, PCOS, heavy bleeding, light bleeding, hypothyroidism, etc. For each of these period issues, she explains what the typical treatment would be (usually a medication prescribed from your doctor), and then lays out a natural treatment alternative. She also acknowledges when an issue is beyond the scope of the book or cannot be treated solely by natural methods, when and why to see a doctor, and what questions to discuss with her when you do.
What does natural treatment entail? Sleep, Diet, Exercise, and Supplements. A side note about sleep...The way Briden talks about periods while on the pill (what she calls "pill bleeds") not being real periods, reminded me of the way Matthew Walker talks about sleeping pill induced sedation not being real sleep in his book Why We Sleep, which I highly recommend. Period Repair Manual and Why We Sleep were both eye-opening for me. I was happy when Briden mentions the importance of sleep in this book:
Sleep is another priority strategy for period health. Getting seven or eight hours of quality sleep each night will do more for you than almost any supplement or herb we discuss in this book. Why is sleep so important for hormones? For one thing, it stabilizes your HPA axis and cortisol. It also improves insulin sensitivity and regulates the release of luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, and progesterone. Sleep is more important than exercise. Hopefully, you have time in your day for both. If you have to choose between sleep and exercise, choose sleep! Aim for at least seven hours each and every night. If you have trouble sleeping, then please take a minute to consider the underlying reason.
Even if you aren't currently experiencing period problems, I would still recommend this book to all women. Whether you're a teenager who just started menstruating, you're approaching menopause, or you're somewhere in between. Chances are, you'll experience period problems at some point in your life. I would have loved to have this book available to me when I started experiencing period problems myself at the age of 15. It's never too early or too late to take a good hard look at your period health and try to understand what your body is telling you.
Your body wants to be healthy. It wants to have healthy periods. Treat the cause, and play the long game. Stick with your treatment. Trust your body.
January 7, 2018
This book is a holy grail that all girls MUST read. It explains our periods, hormones and how evil the pill really is. I have been a suffer with issues for 10 years and no pharmaceutical medications have helped me so I have leaned towards the natural side now. This book has given me knowledge and confidence it all! The first half of the book is great explaining the basics, the diet and supplement tips and how she explains it all really makes sense and makes it link together. The second half is heavily related to POCS and endometriosis ect. Personally this did not relate to me but still found it interesting. The only down fall is that she talks a lot about “no periods” and how to naturally bring them on/ reasons people have no periods. But I have the opposite issue! And wanted some guidance with that.
March 30, 2018
This truly is more of a manual than a book to be read front to back. Burden gives great recommendations on how to naturally heal your menstrual cycle and the book is easy to flip through to find and hone in on your particular menstrual issue.
March 12, 2022
This is my period bible. It spells out problems you might be having and gives you solutions. And not just: take this one pill and everything will be better. It explains why you might be having certain symptoms and ways to fix the underlying root of the problem not just the symptom. I love love love this book. If you’re looking for a book to better understand your body as a woman or looking for ways that your period could be better-look no further. It’s seriously so great, and I’m already referring to it in conversations with friends and family. 100% recommend.
April 5, 2019
This book is the holy grail of women's health- I would never have picked it up if it hadn't recommended to me by a friend, but I am soo grateful that I did. This book is for any woman who's ever had that nagging feeling that the birth control pill is doing funky things to their bodies; spoiler alert, it is! Dr. Lara Briden does a fantastic job of demystifying female hormones and provides an explanation behind the many bizarre symptoms that many women experience from the pill.
November 28, 2017
Excellent and informative book.
December 28, 2024
Yeesh, this book took me forever to finish. Extremely insightful and research-based. Sort of a pick your symptoms, identify the root and find different avenues to help repair your body. I’m more informed about women’s health & natural treatments because of this book, and have steps forward because of it!
August 10, 2022
I really didn't like this book.
She starts out by basically saying "if you care about your body at all, stop using hormonal birth control, and if you don't? Don't even bother reading this book. Stop now" but then paragraphs later says that there are many circumstances when hormonal birth control really is the best option, but she down plays it as much as possible.
She also recommends the least effective form of birth control, the rhythm method, telling us that doctor's tell you know to use it because they don't think you are smart enough to do it, but you are. But all the while, she makes constant quips like "I bet you didn't know this" "I bet you didn't learn this in health class" "I'll bet you never understood this before."
Additionally, she suggests the rhythm method like it's the end all be all and that hormonal birth control was just something they did to put women down. But like, having control yourself over when you have a baby (without having to stop having sex) is the height of female liberation. I have a friend who tried the rhythm method but her husband pushed her to have sex anyway and she is having a baby during nursing school now. My friend was shamed by this book into thinking that the only method that is respectful of your body is the rhythm method and in the process she lost control of her body. I think turning people off of options is dangerous.
I have many other thoughts, but I can't sort through them now.
I could only get through the first half (part 1) before I felt so completely talked down to and talked over that I had to put it down.
I'd give it zero stars if I could.
She starts out by basically saying "if you care about your body at all, stop using hormonal birth control, and if you don't? Don't even bother reading this book. Stop now" but then paragraphs later says that there are many circumstances when hormonal birth control really is the best option, but she down plays it as much as possible.
She also recommends the least effective form of birth control, the rhythm method, telling us that doctor's tell you know to use it because they don't think you are smart enough to do it, but you are. But all the while, she makes constant quips like "I bet you didn't know this" "I bet you didn't learn this in health class" "I'll bet you never understood this before."
Additionally, she suggests the rhythm method like it's the end all be all and that hormonal birth control was just something they did to put women down. But like, having control yourself over when you have a baby (without having to stop having sex) is the height of female liberation. I have a friend who tried the rhythm method but her husband pushed her to have sex anyway and she is having a baby during nursing school now. My friend was shamed by this book into thinking that the only method that is respectful of your body is the rhythm method and in the process she lost control of her body. I think turning people off of options is dangerous.
I have many other thoughts, but I can't sort through them now.
I could only get through the first half (part 1) before I felt so completely talked down to and talked over that I had to put it down.
I'd give it zero stars if I could.
February 22, 2023
I came across this book while researching the optimal healthy diet for myself and reading about the low-carb diet. While i tried my best to follow trustworthy sources, they lacked a vital aspect: they were talking "in general" which actually means "applied to men". When by chance i heard a woman health expert mention hormonal imbalances in women i had this epiphany that there have to be specific guidelines to regulate feminine hormones. I have to say this was very ironic because one of the biggest reasons why i had become so interested in optimising my diet was to help my period symptoms - and yet i didn't make the connection that gender is a significant factor in determining it.
Among others, I found the essential piece of information that women (to various degrees) need complex carbohydrates in order to ovulate (which, for example, no nutritionist advocating for the keto diet that i came across thought to mention).
Because of many examples like the one above which help you understand your body better and find out how to help it, and because i think it's revolting how so many doctors focus on eliminating the symptoms before the cause, i think this book (and others like it) is a crucial read for women.
Among others, I found the essential piece of information that women (to various degrees) need complex carbohydrates in order to ovulate (which, for example, no nutritionist advocating for the keto diet that i came across thought to mention).
Because of many examples like the one above which help you understand your body better and find out how to help it, and because i think it's revolting how so many doctors focus on eliminating the symptoms before the cause, i think this book (and others like it) is a crucial read for women.
November 3, 2021
I was hoping to learn about the process of going off birth control, but the second chapter, which discusses "breaking up with the pill" just talked about the evils of birth control. Also, a lot of the assertions aren't backed up by any explanation, and, as I was listening to the audiobook, I couldn't hear the citations. She also says things that are false, like that hormonal birth control shuts off your actual hormones and that takingg hormonal birth control from a young age to regulate your period prevents your period from regulating on its own. I know these are false from my own personal experiences on the pill.
I appreciate someone dicussing the fact that birth control isn't the only option for problematic periods, but stating falsities about birth control makes me think that the author doesn't actually know much about the reproductive system, so how can she be qualified to discuss a topic like this? The whole book just feels like woo-woo bs rather than a serious discussion about the potential problems with birth control and alternatives.
I appreciate someone dicussing the fact that birth control isn't the only option for problematic periods, but stating falsities about birth control makes me think that the author doesn't actually know much about the reproductive system, so how can she be qualified to discuss a topic like this? The whole book just feels like woo-woo bs rather than a serious discussion about the potential problems with birth control and alternatives.
November 5, 2022
Uhgh. I went into this with an open mind, but the author matched endless lectures about the evils of the Pill with encouraging the rythm method and significantly downplaying the issues with IUD.
Worse than conventional medicine.
Worse than conventional medicine.
November 2, 2017
One of the most informative and helpful books I have ever read regarding women's health. I will keep this forever and will probably always look back to it as a resource for the rest of my life.
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